Join us for the premier of Literally, Boulder, a live "chat show" featuring accomplished and acclaimed Boulderites talking about what they do, how they do it and what it means to be doing it right here in dear old Boulder, CO with host Justin Veach. Each show concludes with a special post show reception. For this first installment of our signature program we will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Boulder County Arts Alliance with special birthday antics, cake, singing and some surprise guests.

Maura Axelrod is a director and producer of news and documentaries. She recently worked with artist Jeff Koons on a project for Project Perpetual and the UN Foundation’s Shot at Life program, and is currently finishing a feature length documentary about the artist Maurizio Cattelan. Maura began her career as a writer and field producer at ABC News in New York. As an independent producer, her work has appeared on outlets worldwide, including ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, BBC, ITN, Al Jazeera, PBS News Hour, National Geographic Channel, The New York Times, and AXS TV World Report and Dan Rather Reports. www.mauraaxelrod.com

Dzigar Kongtrül grew up in a monastic environment and received extensive training in all aspects of Buddhist doctrine. In 1989, he moved to the United States with his family, and in 1990, he began a five-year tenure as a professor of Buddhist philosophy at Naropa University. He also founded Mangala Shri Bhuti, his own teaching organization, during this period. He has established a mountain retreat center, Longchen Jigme Samten Ling, in southern Colorado. When not guiding students in long-term retreats and not in retreat himself, Rinpoche travels widely throughout the world teaching and furthering his own education. Rinpoche is the author of three books, It’s Up to You: The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path, Light Comes Through: Buddhist Teachings on Awakening to our Natural Intelligence andThe Intelligent Heart: A Guide to the Compassionate Life. He is also an avid painter in the abstract expressionist tradition as well as an aspiring photographer. Rinpoche travels widely throughout the world teaching and furthering his own education. www.mangalashribhuti.org

Jared Polis is an independent leader who uses his private and public sector experience to find pragmatic solutions to the challenges facing Colorado and the nation. First elected to represent Colorado’s Second Congressional District in 2008, Polis serves on the powerful Committee on Rules, the Committee on Education and Workforce, and the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. Polis believes that education is the single most meaningful investment America can make in its economic future and in its people. His efforts in this area focus on getting accountability right at all levels, expanding educational models that work, and improving persistently failing schools with data-driven models to reduce achievement gaps. Polis also works with Democrats and Republicans to reform our nation’s broken immigration policies, to advance the cause of civil rights and equality for all, and to protect Colorado and the world’s natural beauty and environment. While still attending Princeton University, Polis cofounded his first company, American Information Systems, a success he followed with the launching of bluemountain.com and Proflowers.com. He has been named an “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst and Young. ​www.polisforcongress.com

Marlon Reis was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. He still calls it home, despite splitting his time between the mountains and the East Coast. In addition to being the partner of the first openly-gay man to be elected to the United States House of Representatives, Marlon maintains an avid interest in issues relating to animal rights and animal welfare. He is happiest spending time with animals, and learning from them. He is a longtime practitioner of the vegan lifestyle, and his passion is writing gothic-era fiction and poetry. He and Jared keep busy caring for their 5-year-old son, CJ, and their 2-year-old daughter, Cora. Marlon also enjoys leading visitors to Washington, DC on certified tours of the US Capitol, White House, Library of Congress, and Smithsonian Institutional museums.

Boulder Arts & Lectures is a fiscally sponsored program of the Boulder County Arts Alliance, an organization that acts as a catalyst to incubate, stimulate and sustain a thriving arts community in Boulder County.